Ancillary services from the low- and medium-voltage level

Project state

Started

Ancillary services from the low- and medium-voltage level

Logo for the joint DeF-Neg research project

In the event of major faults it must be ensured that no photovoltaic systems and wind turbines are shut down because they can contribute to supporting the system by feeding in their power. Within the joint DeF-Neg project, researchers are therefore investigating how measures for stabilising the frequency can be shifted to the distribution grids.

The progressive expansion of decentralised power generators in the low- and medium-voltage level is presenting the existing protection concepts for stabilising the frequency with new challenges. Particularly in the event of major faults it must be ensured that no photovoltaic systems and wind turbines are shut down because they can contribute to supporting the system by feeding in their power. Within the joint DeF-Neg project, researchers are therefore investigating how measures for stabilising the frequency can be shifted to the distribution grids.

In the project, scientists are investigating ways to specifically switch on decentralised infeeds from renewable energy sources and controllable loads so that they can stabilise the grid. The special feature is that thanks to information and communication technology (ICT), it is possible to provide decentralised ancillary services for stabilising the frequency. They are also aiming to coordinate loads in distribution grids, which was also not previously possible. The researchers are therefore aiming to provide future-proof system protection. In order to achieve this, during the course of the project the project partners will develop the required resources and test them out in practice. TU Dortmund is coordinating the joint project and is working together with partners from different areas:

ASL Services GmbH is designing a decentralised frequency relay. It is also helping to develop the necessary communications infrastructure and the field trial.

Stadtwerk Haßfurt GmbH is responsible for the communications concept and demonstrating the test systems. The field trial, in which the developed components will be tested in practice, will be conducted in the distribution grid belonging to Stadtwerk Haßfurt.

The test systems will be built in a laboratory environment from August 2016 and the field trial will start in June 2017.